Combined book clasp and handle



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL T. CLANCY, OF CLIFTON HEIGHTS, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED BOOK CLASP AND HANDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,161, dated December 5, 1893.

Application led September 6, 1893. SerialNo. 484,925. (No model.) Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL T. CLANCY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clifton Heights, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Book Clasp and Handle, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The nature of this invention is a combined clasp and handle for books, the same being applicable, more especially, to the sample and account books carried by canvassers and solicitors.

The invention consists in the combination with a hook, of a handle hingedly connected with the edge of one of the covers, and a clasp or yoke similarly connected with the opposite edge of the other cover, and adapted to ernbrace the handle member 'and engage suitable catches on that cover to which the handle is attached, as hereinafter particularly described.

In the annexed draWings,-Eigure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a book to which the device is applied, the book being represented as clasped. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the book unclasped, preparatory to its being opened.

A represents a book and B my improved device applied thereto. vThis device coinprises two members, namely, a clasp b and handle c. The clasp is preferably constructed of a piece of stout wire bent into the form of a yoke, its free ends being hingedly connected with the front edge of one of the covers of the book. In the present instance the extremities of the clasp are looped and connected with suitably-disposed eyes, d, on the edge of the cover. On the edge of the other cover there are fixed two eyes, e, which constitute catches with which the yoke may be engaged. Attached to these eyes are the looped ends of a handle-yoke, c, preferably of wire, which may or may not, as desired, be provided with a hand-hold, c. The width of the yoke, c, is

`less. than that of the clasp-yoke, to the end that the former will freely extend through the latter, and thus not interfere With the manipulation of the yoke b, during the clasping or the unclasping ot' the book, as represented in the drawings.

By the above described construction, it will be seen that when the book is clasped there is afforded a simple and efficient handle by which it may be conveniently carried, and this without any liability of the book becoming accidentally unclasped, the handle as will be observed serving as a guard for the clasp.

I claim asV my inventionl. A combined clasp and handle for books, comprising a clasp-yoke hingedly connected with one cover of the book, catches on the opposite cover with which said yoke is adapted to engage, and an inner handle yoke hingedly connected with said latter cover, substantially as described.

2. A combined clasp and handle for books, comprising a clasp-yoke, hinge eyes on one edge of the cover, catch eyes on the edge of the opposite cover, and a handle-yoke hingedly connected with said catch eyes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MICHAEL T. CLANCY.

Witnesses:

JOHN R. NOLAN, JEssE B. HELLER. 

